Æolian hummer.



No. 729,891. PATENTBD JUNE 2,1903w A. G. PIERCE.

EOLIAN HUMMER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1902.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 2 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR G. PIERCE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSI GNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CARL F. NOPPER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

lEOLlAN HUMMERL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,891, dated June 2, 1903.

' Application filed November 17, 1902. Serial No. 131,604. (No model-i To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at T0- ledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in .(Eolian Hummers, of which the following is a specification.

'My invention relates to an aeolian hummer, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and pleasing toy of the kind adapted to produce prolonged aeolian sounds of varying tone and pitch when whirled in the air with varying velocity.

with this obj ect in View my invention consists of a slender elastic body bent at the ends to form arms projecting in the plane of the body on the same side, a flexible elastic musical string stretched between and secured to the end portions of the arms, and a cord secured to one arm of the body for whirling it in the air.

Preferred embodiments of my invention are hereinafter described, and illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is an isometric View of my invention with the sounding-string secured in position for use. Fig. 2 is a like view with one end of the sounding-string released. Fig. 3 is a modified form of my invention in which a silk string is substituted for the rubber band and one end of the bow provided with a weight and the opposite end suitably attached to a handle;

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the body portion of my invention, preferably formed of metal spring-wire flattened at the ends and the end portion of each flattened portion doubled on itself to form a bight 2. The end portions of the rod thus formed are bent to form the arms 3, extending in the plane of the body in the same direction, with the notches 4 of the bights 2 transverse the plane of the body and the arms.

Into one of the notches at is inserted one end portion of a flat rubber strip 5, the normal length of which is much less than the distance between. the free ends of the arms 3. The

strip 5 is then stretched and the opposite end portion thereof inserted in the other notch 4. The free ends of the strip beyond the bight contract and form enlargements 6, that prevent the ends of the strip from being drawn through the notches'et. The strip 5 thus extended and secured forms a string susceptible of musical vibrations.

To either one of the arms 3 is secured a cord 7 of suitable length, by which the toy thus formed may be whirled in circles about the hand, thereby causing vibrations that produce aeolian sounds varying with the rapidity of the motion. The body 1 is slightly bowed by the tension of the string, and when the toy is whirled the centrifugal force of the body of the toy, varying with the speed with which the instrument is whirled, more or less straightens the body, thereby causing varying degrees of tension of the string 5, which also assists in producing variations in the tone.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form of my invention, in which a silken string 8 is used instead of the rubber strip 5. In this embodiment of my invention eyelets 9 are formed on the ends of the arms 3 for attaching the string 8, and one of the arms is weighted with a ball 10. The cord 7 is attached by one end to the opposite arm and is provided with a handle 11, having an annular groove 12 at one end in which is revolubly mounted a collar 13,having an eyelet 14, to which the other end of cord 7 is secured. Thus constructed the handle 11 forms a ready means for whirling the instru= ment, and the string 8 being drawn tightly enough to bow the body 1 and produce musical vibrations when the instrument is whirled by the handle the weight of the ball 10 adds to the centrifugal force and aids in increasing the tension on the string, thereby modulating its tone, as hereinbefore described.

An instrument of the kind constructed as described may be made to produce prolonged aeolian sounds of varying tone and pitch and forms a pleasing and attractive toy of simple and economical construction and that is readily manipulated.

W'hat I claim to be new is- 1. The toy herein described, comprising a slender elastic body having arms projecting on the same side of the body and in the same plane, a flexible elastic musical string ICO stretched between and secured to the arms, to be stretched and secured in the big'hts, and and a, flexible cord or the like secured to one a cord secured to one of the arms, substanof the arms of the body. tially as set forth.

2.- In a toy hummer, the combination of a In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my I 5 slender elastic body having end portions bent hand this 13th day of September, A. D. 1902. 15

to form arms projecting on the same side of v the body and in the same plane, and having ARTHUR PIERCE the ends of the arms flattened and bighted to Witnesses: form notches transverse the plane of the arms FRANK WV. LONG, 10 and the body, a flexible elastic strip adapted DUDLEY \VATSON MOOR. 

